Sectional cardboard display device



March 13, 1956 N. J. LEIGH 2,737,742

SECTIONAL CARDBOARD DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 11, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR: M Jas'EPH L510 March 13, 1956 N. J. LEIGH 2,737,742

SECTIONAL CARDBOARD DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 11, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 22/ s; 32 ii- A; 22 2. 25 5 23 9 Ti E.

INVENTOR: M dost-PH EIGH March 13, 1956 J LElGH SECTIONAL CARDBOARDDISPLAY DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR: Y- JME'PH [6/6 Filed March 11,1953 ATTOEA/ United States Patent 2,737,742 SECTIONAL CARDBOARD DISPLAYDEVICE Nathan Joseph Leigh, Great Einson-Freeman Co., Inc., corporationof Delaware Neck, N. Y., assignor to Long Island City, N. Y., a

My present invention relates generally to display devices, and hasparticular reference to cardboard structures of the type which arecommonly employed on store counters, in store windows, and in similarplaces.

It is an object of the invention to provide certain improvements in atype of display element which may be selectively used by itself as aseparate item or may be assembled with others of the same kind to form acom posite display. The invention provides a means which is simple andinexpensive, yet highly effective, to unite a plurality of basic displaysections in a number of different ways to achieve variousattention-arresting effects.

The basic unit of the contemplated sectional display device is aframe-like structure, commonly of polygonal shape and preferablyrectangular, in which there is a back panel and a number of side panelsarranged at right angles thereto. It is intended that two or more ofsuch units be secured together in side-by-side relationship in varyingpatterns and arrangements, and that the sections be separablyinterconnected at the back. By the term sideby-side I includeassemblages in which one or more of the units are arranged one above theother, either in direct vertical relation, or in stepped or staggeredfashion. The aim of the invention is to provide some improvedexpedients, reliable in operation, easy to use, and low in cost, for theinterconnection of the sections and the simultaneous rigidifying andstiffening of the resultant composite structure.

In accordance with my invention, the back panel of the basic unit isprovided in a special way with certain marginal apertures for thereception of gripping jaws, and with upper and lower easel slotsintended for coaction with an easel of particular design. Both thegripping jaws and the easel contribute to the desired rigidification andstrengthening of the sectional assemblies; although in some instancesthe employment of the special easel is not necessary. Each back panel isalso provided with its own integrally formed easel of ordinary andwellknown kind, for use whenever its propping and stiffening effect mayprove desirable. And to complete the independence of the basic sectionas a separately useful dis play the back panel may also have a picturecord or its equivalent for hanging it on a wall or other support.

The gripping jaws by means of which each pair of juxtaposed sections isheld together are part of a separable clip of special design whichincludes a flat plate-like part of appreciable area adapted to overliethe joint between the sections and to lie flatwise against the adjacentareas of the corresponding back panels.

I achieve the foregoing objects, and such other objects and advantagesas may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the mannerillustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a perspective view, from the rear, of one of the basicdisplay sections to which the invention relates;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the blank of cardboard of which the backpanel is formed;

i the easel of Figure 12 is formed,

Figure 2a is a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, of one of theeasel slots;

Figure 3 is a perspective view, from the front, of one illustrativearrangement of three of the basic sections to form a composite displayunit;

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the device shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the special easel employed in Figure 4, shownby itself;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view substantiallyon the line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing an illustrativeassemblage of five basic sections arranged in accordance with adifferent pattern;

Figure 8 is an elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of one of thespecial clips which help to hold adjacent sections together;

Figure 9 is an end view of the clip shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view takensubstantially along the line 1010 of Figure 7;

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figures 4 and 7, showing anotherillustrative arrangement of five basic sections;

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing a modified type ofeasel that may be used;

Figure 13 is an exploded view of the two parts of which shown inseparated relation; and

Figure 14 is an enlarged rear View of the joint shown in Figure 12.

The basic section is a rectangular or square frame-like unit of the kindshown in Figure 1. It is complete by itself and can be used separately,if desired. The ornamentation, configuration or advertising purpose ofthe front of the unit has no direct bearing on the present invention.For illustrative purposes I have shown a unit in which the front isformed of a cardboard blank 20 (see Figures 3 and 6) formed to define acentral display area 21, a forwardly flaring frame-like margin 22, andrearwardly directed side panels 23. The unit is provided with a backpanel shown by itself in Figure 2 and designated, generally, by thereference numeral 24. The back panel has a central area that liesparallel to the front face, preferably flatwise against the centraldisplay area of the front blank 20; and marginal attachment areas 25which are folded forwardly into nesting relation to the side panels 23,as best shown in Figures 6 and 10. The areas 25 may be permanentlysecured to the side panels 23 in any desired manner, as by adhesive, bystaples, or other fastening expedients.

To facilitate the use of the basic unit as a separate display, the backpanel may be provided with a picture cord 26 (see Figure 1) so that thedevice may be hung on a wall or the like; and the panel is also providedwith appropriate cuts 27 to define an integral easel 28 adapted to beswung into the propping position shown in Figure 1 if the device is tobe stood upon a supporting floor.

In order that the unit of Figure 1 may be conjointly used with one ormore other units of substantially identical construction, to formcomposite displays of varying contours, the back panel 24 is providedwith at least one special aperture adjacent to each of its edges.Preferably the back panel has a series of spaced apertures adjacent toeach edge. In the device herein illustrated by way of example, I havechosen to show a series of four equallyspaced substantially rectangularapertures 29 adjacent to each edge of the back panel. The aperturesalong opposite parallel edges are preferably in alignment, as shown.

The back panel 24 is also provided with at least one upper easel slotand at least one lower easel slot, these gramme slots being verticallyout of alignment. In the device chosen for illustration I have shown theback panel provided with a pair of upper easel slots 30, in horizontalalignment, and a pair of lower easel slots 31, also in horizontalalignment. All of these slots are, however, vertically out of alignment.

It is of advantage that the apertures 29 arranged along the lower andupper edges be spaced from each other by an amount equal to thehorizontal misalignment of :the easel slots 30, 31.

The special easel constituting one of the features of the presentinvention is shown by itself in Figure 5. This easeliscomposed ofadequately stiif cardboard, andmay be of any of several lengths. It isprovided with adjacent vertical panels 33 and 34, separated by a .foldline-35. The panel 34, when arranged at substantially right angles tothe panel 33, is adapted to perform the desired propping and rigidifyingfunction, while the panel 33 is the one which establishes appropriateconnection with the basic units which are secured together. Thepanel33.is provided with several pairs of attachment tabs. In theillustrative easel shown in Figure 5, there is an uppermost pairof tabs36, 37; an intermediate pair of tabs 33, 39; and a lower pair of tabs40, 41. The tabs of eachpair are vertically spaced by an amount equal tothe vertical distance between the upper and lower easel slots 30, 31.

Each of the attachment tabs of the easel is engageable with any selectedeasel slot. This engagement is prefera ably a simple frictional one, andto facilitate-this each easel slot 30, 31 is preferably formed asindicated, in Figure 2a.

easel slots on an enlarged scale. The back panel is provided with avertical cut 43, and with a horizontal cut 44 extending from themidpoint of the cut 43. Fold lines 45 extending obliquely from the endof the cut 44 to the vertical cut 43 define triangular flaps 46 whichnormally lie in the plane of the back panel 24 but which may be liftedaway as indicated by the depicted disposition of the upper flap 46 inFigure 2a. To facilitate this lifting of the flaps, the back panel has asemi-circular region cut away completely, this region being bounded bythe mid-- portion of the vertical cut 43 and by a semi-circular orC-shaped cut 42.

When any selected one of the easel tabs is to be engaged with the easelslot, the flaps 46 are slightly lifted, and the tab may then be readilyinserted, sideways, into the space behind the flaps 46.

This interengagement between easel. tabs and easel slots is useful inholding together three basic sections in the stacked relationship shownin Figures 3 and.4. Merely by way of example I have shown the sectionsshown in a staggered relation,.whereby the lowest and the uppermostsection are directly in vertical alignment, while the intermediatesection is laterally displaced. Thelateral displacement is such as tobring the left hand lower easel slot 48 of the intermediate section intovertical alignment with the right hand easel slots 49 and t) of theupper and lower sections respectively. The easel of Figure 5 is securedto these superposed sections, the tab 37 being brought into engagementwith the easel slot 49, the tab 39 with the-easel slot 48, and the tab41 with the easel slot 50. Thus the three sections are retained insuperposed relation with the back panels in a common plane and with aside panel of each section lying directly against a side panel of theadjacent section.

Obviously, more than three sections could bearranged in superposedrelation, and in that event the easel employed would be one ofcorresponding height; Similarly, if only two sections are arranged oneabovethe other, and if an easel of the kind described is used to supportthem and hold them rigidly together, the easel would then be=ofcorresponding shorter length than the one shown. In each case, the pairsof easel tabs are arranged" atappropriate vertical intervals whereby theupper tab of each pairis in horizontal alignment with thecorre-s= Inthis figure I have illustrated one of thesponding set of upper easelslots, while the lower tab of each set is in horizontal alignment withthe lower set of easel slots.

In Figures 8 and 9 I have shown a clip of special construction adaptedto be employed in holding sections of the present type together. Theclip may be composed of metal or equivalent rigid material. It comprisesa flat plate-520i appreciable area which I have chosen to showofsubstantially rectangular shape, but any other appropriate shape maybe employed. Projecting fromthis plate is a air to springy substantiallyparallelgripping jaws 56. These jaws are preferably struck from thematerial of the plate 52, byforming opposed U-shaped cuts 53, 54 andbending the released areas forwardly along the fold line 55.

The clip is employed by arranging two adjacent sections of the displaydevice with one of the apertures of oneunit in alignment with a selectedone of the apertures in .the adjacentunit, and.by causing the jaws 56toenter thesealigned apertures, respectively, and grip between them thejuxtaposed side panels of the adjacent sections.

are in directly superposed relation while two of them.

projectlaterally. Thelateral section 66 has been arranged in a positionin which the uppermost of its series of; apertures 61 is in alignmentwith the lowest one-0f the series of apertures 62 in the top section 63.Joining the. parts together is a clip of the character described, thejaws of the clip entering this pair of aligned apertures, as best shownin Figure 10, and holding together the juxtaposed side panels 64 and 65.The side panel: .65 is on the section 63, and the side panel 64 is onthe section 60.

At the right hand side of Figure 7 I have shown another section66-similarly arranged, and held in association with the section. 63 bymeans of the clip 67. Obviously, the section 66 may be dispensed with ifdesired, or it may beconnected with one or another of the threesuperposed sections shown in a vertical disposition other than thatillustrated.

Inv holding the five sections of Figure 7 together, I'

have also employedan easel68 of the character hereinbefore described. Inthis. case the upper one of each pair ofeasel. tabs is in engagementwith one of the upper easel slots of the .corresponding section.

IniFigure 11 I have illustrated another arrangement of.

may be used.to.support the assembly, and no special easel. is, required,although an easel of this kind may be used ifit is. considereddesirable. In this case, also, I haveillustratively shown how four clips69, of the charactcrhereinbefore described, are utilized to advantage inholding each pair of adjacent sections in the desired rela tionship.Wherever one of the clips 69 is shown, its jaws are engaging with a pairof marginal apertures which have been brought into alignment.

It should be observed that each of the integral eascls 28 is hingedlymovable on a vertical hinge line .19 and that. this hingeline and theeasel 28 itself lie.in..one of the ,vertical regions of the backing 24between adjacent easel slots.

In Figures 12-14 I have shown a modified easel construction formed ofseparable parts 79 and 71. The lower part .701is a complete easel byitself,. similar to that of.

easel tabs of the tabs of the lower The upper part 71 is an extensionadapted to be applied to the part 70 when a greater height of easel iscalled for.

- e part 71 has a pair of ease] tabs 76, 77. When the parts 70, 71 areinterconnected (Figures 12 and 14) the resultant easel is functionallyidentical with the one shown in Figure 5. It has three pairs of tabs.Those of each pair are vertically spaced by an amount equal to thevertical distance between the upper and lower easel slots of each basicsection; and the three groups of tabs are arranged at appropriatevertical intervals whereby the upper tab of each pair (76, 72, 74) is inhorizontal alignment with the corresponding set of upper easel slots(where three basic sections are superposed) while the lower easel tabs(77, 73, 75) are in horizontal alignment with the corresponding lowersets of easel slots.

Aligned fold lines 78 and 79 divide the composite easel into adjacentpanels, one of which carries the tabs and lies flatwise against theinterconnected basic sections when the easel is used, the other of whichstands at right angles thereto. As in Figure 5, the easel may also haveother fold lines, as indicated, to provide additional stiffening, ifdesired.

The interengagement of the easel parts 70 and 71 is achieved by a set ofnotches 80 in the upper edge of the lower part 70 (Figure 13), a set ofcorresponding notches 81 in the lower edge of the upper part 71, and anextension on one part provided with locking tabs adapted to fit intocorresponding slots in the other part. I have shown such an extension onthe part 71; it is "a small rectangular area 82 hinged to the part 71 at83 and provided with the lateral locking tabs or cars 84 hinged at 85.These ears, when turned at right angles to the area 82, may be pushedthrough the slots '86 on the lower part 70.

To apply the extension 71 to the easel 70, the notches 80, 81 areinterlocked as shown in Figures 12 and 14, the alternate areas 87between the notches 80 lying on one side of the part 71, the other areas88 lying on the other side. The ears 86. A rigid easel of extendedheight (like that of Figure 5) is thus produced. The extension will notbe used when an easel of less height (i. e., the part 70 by itself) isto be employed.

Obviously there are innumerable patterns along which two or more of thebasic display sections may be arranged and joined together. Theinvention thus affords an opportunity for forming a wide variety ofdifferent composite display devices. The device is in each case ofsectional and separable character, and the individual elements can bereused by themselves or in other arrangements.

In many respects the details herein described and illustrated are merelyillustrative, and it is to be understood that variations in such detailsmay be made by those skilled in the art without necessarily departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sectional cardboard display device, a pair of rectangularsections each of which has a back panel and side panels at right anglesthereto, said sections being 84 are then inserted into the slots adaptedfor arrangement one above the other with the back panels in a commonplane and the bottom side panel of the upper section resting on the topside panel of the lower one, and an easel extending vertically up fromthe lower section to lie behind both sections, the back panel of theupper section having at least one upper easel slot and at least onelower easel slot, said slots being vertically out of alignment, saideasel having a pair of tabs one of which is horizontally aligned withthe upper easel slot, the other with the lower easel slot, whereby anengagement can be made between the upper tab and the upper easel slot inone disposition of the upper section relative to the easel, and betweenthe lower tab and the lower easel slot in a laterally shifteddisposition of the upper section.

-2. In a sectional cardboard display device, a pair of rectangularsections each of which has a back panel and side panels at right anglesthereto, said sections being adapted for arrangement one above the otherwith the back panels in a common plane and the bottom side panel of theupper section resting on the top side panel of the lower one, each backpanel having at least one upper easel slot and at least one lower easelslot, said slots being vertically out of alignment, and an easelextending vertically behind both sections, said easel having an upperpair of tabs respectively aligned horizontally with the upper and lowereasel slots of the upper section, and a lower pair of tabs respectivelyaligned horizontally with the upper and lower easel slots of the lowersection, whereby an engagement between selected easel tabs and slots canbe made in each of several horizontally displaced relative dispositionsof said superposed sections.

3. In a sectional cardboard display device, the combination of elementsset forth in claim 2, in which each back panel has a plurality of upperand lower easel slots, each set being in horizontal alignment and allslots being vertically out of alignment.

4. In a sectional cardboard display device, a plurality of sections eachof which has a back panel, said sections being adapted for arrangementone above the other with the back panels in a common plane, each backpanel having a set of upper easel slots and a set of lower easel slots,said slots being vertically out of alignment but the slots of each setbeing in horizontal alignment, and an easel 1; extending verticallybehind said sections, said easel having a pair of tabs in the region ofeach section, each pair comprising an upper tab at the level of thecorresponding set of upper easel slots and a lower tab at the level ofthe corresponding set of lower easel slots, whereby an engagementbetween selected easel tabs and slots can be made in each of varioushorizontally displaced relative dispositions of said superposedsections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS849,111 Fairchild Apr. 2, 1907 1,020,097 Hibbard Mar. 19, 1912 1,472,355Dietsche, Jr Oct. 30, 1923 1,784,299 Many Dec. 9, 1930 2,064,056 CooksonDec. 15, 1936 2,165,724 Page et al. July 11, 1939 2,380,076 Scheyer July10, 1945

